Face of Africa 2008

“Thank you, have a good day.”

Andiswa Manxiwa and Kaone Kario have been up since about 7AM, which is pretty late by the standards of the modelling world. If this past Saturday’s assignment had been a date with the flashy cameras of the beauty industry the ladies would have been up at 5AM so they could be at the location, made up and dressed up before the sun came up. Today the two girls in black are the judges whom the pretty young things, anxiously waiting outside the doors of the GICC have to impress if they are going to be entrants in this year’s Mnet Face of Africa model competition.

Of all the girls that showed up to the auditions, very few had an inkling of the kind of work that goes into a single modeling assignment. The lack of that knowledge did not dampen the mood one single bit. On display was pure ambition. Dreams were on out on display for the unforgiving eye of the cameras, there to record the event for those with DStv. A rather disappointing 270 odd girls turned up for the audition which wasn’t fully representative of the sort of hotties you average connoisseur would like to see representing what they consider local beauty.

Most local guys probably feel these girls would give Kaone a serious run for her money. But what does the man on the street know about selecting models for an Africa wide model competition? It is a task best left to the professionals, and Kaone, albeit with a little well placed concern for the feelings of the hopefuls at first, was well up to the task. Before all the girls could even go in to the judging room to be vetted on the basic requirements such as height, one or two girls got the elbow. The sharpness of the rejection must have been a little unreal with a video camera’s unblinking eye recording every nuance of the moment.

For us observers, it was awkwardly impressive to see the girls, Kaone and Andiswa, get to work immediately, demonstrating just how unforgiving modelling actually is. A nervous giggle twittered through the girls nearest to one of the unlucky girls. The first casualty looked very short next to Kaone, even when Kaone removed her stylish wooden platform sandals to stand bare foot. The formalities dispatched with, it was time for the business of the day.

The remaining girls seeking fame and fortune registered and entered the interview room in groups of ten. The routine was simple, effective and model industry realistic. Height came first. A simple black line on the wall showed who measured up, if it were ever in doubt. Next up was a short catwalk strut in front of the two sharp eyed judges. The aspiring girls had to make that impression first time, if not, well, “Thank you. Have a good day.” And really that was it, no explanations, no discussions, and definitely no appeals. Eleven girls made it through to the second round which involved swimsuits and left nothing in doubt as to body shapes and posture. From this final crop, Botswana’s representative will emerge.

The remaining girls were finally released after 6PM, leaving Kaone and Andiswa to continue with their long day agonising over who would be waving our flag high at the finals in Sun City. As for our strict and fantastically stylish judges, tomorrow it’s off to eleven more cities up and down the continent.

The mission: to gather the cream of the continent’s beauties for a fantastic modelling competition offering a grand opportunity, hopefully to girls named Tito or Gorata, who look set to be favourites in this humble reporter’s biased opinion.

Face of Africa 2008 – the fine print Model Scouts - Andiswa Manxiwa and Kaone Kario Countries to be Scouted - Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia Boot camp in Zanzibar to be attended by a team featuring Oluchi as part of judges Finals night hosted at Suncity – 29 November 2008 The finals will be broadcast live on DStv Prizes include - 3 year modelling contract with former Face of Africa winner Oluchi USD 50.000 (US Dollars)
Olüchi Onweagba official website – www.oluchi.com
Model Africa website – www.omodelafrica.com
Mnet website – www.mnetafrica.com